Ben Ward – Vice Chair

Ben was appointed Vice-Chair on 1 July 2024. He is the Chief Executive Officer, University of Manchester Students’ Union, one of the largest student unions in Europe and he is the Managing Director for Manchester Academy Venues. Ben leads a staff team of 90 full-time and 350 part-time staff with the organisation having a turnover of £8.5million. Holding a number of volunteer and non-executive roles, Ben brings a wealth of experience and skills to the Vice Chair role. 

Ben is looking forward to supporting the College in their journey to reach ‘outstanding status’ over the coming years, ensuring the Board is focused on removing barriers and ensuring that the voice of learners is truly embedded at all levels of the college.